Five Players (Probably) Taking a Final Bow at Euro 2008

Euro 2008 will likely be the end of the international road for several players on the wrong side of 30. And Castrol have come up with a little list of the five players most likely to hang up their international boots when the final whistle blows in Swissaustria.

So prepare to get teary eyed as we (probably) wave a final farewell to:

Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
The Italian captain is 34 years old and already has a World Cup winners medal somewhere in his trophy cabinet. And after his incredible defensive performances in Germany, his international legacy is assured. Whoever replaces Cannavaro in the Azzuri defence will almost definitely be taller (he’s only about 5′9″) but they’ll have some big boots to fill.

Nuno Gomes (Portugal)
Pauleta’s replacement as Portugal’s lone striker, is only 31 years old. So it might be a bit soon to talk about him retiring. Plus Portugal aren’t as deep with strikers as they are elsewhere, so don’t be hugely surprised to see a 33 year old Gomes at World Cup 2010.

Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands)
Though currently injured, the gangly 37 year old keeper has been in great form for Man Utd this season. He’s already announced that he’ll retire from Oranje duty post-Euro 2008, so this will be his final chance to win something on the international stage.

Hakan Şükür (Turkey)
The proud owner of the fastest goal in World Cup finals history (11 seconds vs South Korea at World Cup 2002) Şükür is now 36 years old. Known as “King” back home he’s still scoring goals for Galatasaray (though he’s apparently leaving at the end of the season) and has been playing for the national team since way back in 1992. He hasn’t officially announced any retirement plans, but at 36 he has to be getting there.

Lilian Thuram (France)
Thuram is 36 years old now and has already retired once. And when Raymond Domenech persuaded him to lace up the international boots again for World Cup 2006 he probably didn’t expect to wear them all the way to Euro 2008 as well. Thuram definitely has nothing to prove, with a World Cup winners medal from 1998 and Euro medal from 2000. No harm in showing up for one more international tournament though.